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00:00 This wind power plant, just to the north of the Senegalese capital, is the largest in West Africa.
00:06 With 46 turbines spread over 35 hectares, this site provides enough electricity to meet the
00:13 needs of more than two million people. "It represents a significant chunk of the
00:19 country's energy mix. This plant accounts for 15% of electricity production. The solar energy plant
00:25 accounts for 15%. That's up to 30% of our overall production." Senegal raised $3 billion in funding
00:34 back in June, during a Paris summit focused on development of green energy projects.
00:39 The country is aiming to produce 40% of its electricity from renewable sources
00:45 by 2030, and is seen as a climate leader in the region. "Senegal is really making progress in
00:53 renewable energy with all this investment. Other countries in the region could follow this example.
00:59 Renewable energy is really the solution we need when it comes to sustainable development."
01:05 But the country is not abandoning fossil fuels just yet. Senegalese President Macky Sall recently
01:15 reaffirmed his desire to begin extracting untapped oil and gas deposits in the coming months.
01:21 "In developed countries today, there is coal, oil and gas.
01:26 So we shouldn't have to suffer climate injustice. The main issue for us is that we should be able
01:35 to exploit the resources available to us to satisfy our needs in terms of industrialization
01:41 and universal access to electricity." Once extraction begins, Senegal is expected
01:48 to generate 1.4 billion euros from oil and gas over two years,
01:53 largely through sales to EU countries like Germany.